If you’ve just wrapped up a breathtaking run through Expedition 33 and are craving another turn-based strategy or RPG experience, you're in luck! The genre offers countless gems blending tactical depth, storytelling, and decision-making. Whether you’re a veteran tactician or new to the world of turn-based games, this curated list will guide you to titles that will scratch that strategic itch and keep you hooked.

Here are some fantastic turn-based games worth exploring next.

1. XCOM 2

  • What to Expect: Earth is under alien occupation, and humanity’s last hope is in your hands. XCOM 2 introduces players to squad-based tactical combat where every move counts.
  • Why It’s Perfect After Expedition 33: Like Expedition 33, success often hinges on outsmarting enemies and planning several steps ahead. Each turn will have you weighing risks, considering the terrain, and maximizing character abilities. Add to this a compelling resistance story and permadeath consequences for your team, and XCOM 2 becomes a must-play for anyone looking for high-stakes strategy.
  • Pro Tip: Customize and rename your soldiers for extra emotional investment. Every mission feels personal when your sniper “Dave” is one unlucky shot away from disaster.

2. Wargroove

  • What to Expect: If vibrant art, grid-based combat, and tactical gameplay are your cup of tea, Wargroove delivers in spades. Inspired by the Advance Wars series, this title plunges you into a fantasy war where every unit and commander has unique strengths to master.
  • Why It’s a Match: With Expedition 33 fresh in your mind, Wargroove offers a whimsical yet challenging experience that rewards strategy and clever positioning. Its multiplayer modes allow you to flex your skills against friends or the AI in battle scenarios.
  • Standout Features: The built-in campaign editor lets you craft and share your own adventures, extending the fun well beyond the base game.

3. Divinity: Original Sin 2

  • What to Expect: Combine Dungeons & Dragons-inspired storytelling with turn-based tactical combat, and you get Divinity: Original Sin 2. This game lets you control a party of unique characters, who fight through intricate turn-based battles while navigating a rich narrative.
  • Why You Should Try It: Like Expedition 33, Divinity blends strategic combat with impactful story choices. With elemental interactions, environmental effects, and synergy between party members’ abilities, the game offers unprecedented depth to every encounter.
  • Bonus: Gather some friends for co-op play! Coordinating strategies with human allies adds a new layer of enjoyment to its epic campaign.

4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

  • What to Expect: Set in the continent of Fódlan, this tactical RPG combines turn-based combat with school-life simulation. Train students, forge deep bonds, and lead your chosen house to glory as large-scale conflicts unfold.
  • Why It Resonates: If you enjoyed the emotional weight of decisions in Expedition 33, Three Houses amplifies this with branching storylines that depend on your allegiances. The turn-based combat offers strong tactical challenges, but the relationships you build with your students are what truly leave a lasting impression.
  • Tip: Play through each house’s perspective to fully understand the game’s intricate lore and get more bang for your buck.

5. Into the Breach

  • What to Expect: Minimalist yet incredibly addictive, Into the Breach pits you against swarms of alien monsters in procedurally generated combat scenarios. The future of Earth rests on your team of mechs, carefully deploying their abilities and predicting enemy movements.
  • For Expedition 33 Fans: Both games thrive on the thrill of calculated risk. Every action in Into the Breach ripples across the battlefield, offering a chess-like challenge where thinking ahead is key.
  • Why Play: The bite-sized missions and steep difficulty curve make it easy to pick up yet hard to master, rewarding perfectionist strategists.

6. Octopath Traveler II

  • What to Expect: Square Enix combines classic JRPG design with a unique twist in this beautifully crafted game. Eight playable characters, each with distinct storylines and abilities, come together in turn-based combat against foes.
  • Why It Transfers Seamlessly: The methodical and layered battle system should feel familiar and rewarding after Expedition 33. You’ll find yourself managing resources across long fights while employing elemental weaknesses and stacking powerful combos.
  • Don’t Miss Out: Octopath’s “break and boost” mechanics make combat dynamic and thrilling. Plus, the HD-2D art style brings the fantasy world to life in breathtaking detail.

7. Darkest Dungeon II

  • What to Expect: Dark and unforgiving, Darkest Dungeon II puts players in charge of a band of flawed adventurers as they battle nightmarish horrors. Every single encounter is drenched in tension due to the game’s grim atmosphere and punishing difficulty.
  • Why You’ll Love It: For players who appreciated the challenge and high stakes of Expedition 33, Darkest Dungeon II offers similarly dire consequences for poor decisions. You’ll need to balance combat prowess with party morale as stress management becomes a central concern.
  • Heads-Up: Don’t get too attached to your party members. Survival often demands cold-blooded sacrifices.

8. Triangle Strategy

  • What to Expect: A spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics, this political war drama puts players in an intricate world of alliances and betrayal. Choosing loyalties affects battles, relationships, and the ultimate direction of the game.
  • Connection to Expedition 33: If you loved making tough decisions in Expedition 33, Triangle Strategy takes this to new extremes. Split loyalties and hard choices shape each playthrough's unique outcome.
  • Highlight: Tactical positioning remains critically important in every encounter, testing your wits and foresight as battles grow more complex.

9. Civ VI (Turn-Based Mode)

  • What to Expect: Civilization VI might not seem like a traditional turn-based RPG, but its turn-based strategy roots make it a top-tier alternative. Guide your chosen civilization to prosperity, emphasizing culture, warfare, or diplomacy.
  • For the Strategic Mindset: Fans of Expedition 33 will find a home in Civ VI due to its multilayered systems and demand for long-term planning. Whether waging strategic wars or vying for scientific advancements, every turn feels deliberate and decisive.
  • Endless Replayability: The random map generation ensures no two campaigns feel the same.

10. Gears Tactics

  • What to Expect: Set in the Gears of War universe, this turn-based strategy game puts a tactical spin on a traditionally action-heavy franchise. Players command squads of soldiers against Locust hordes, emphasizing skillful positioning and precise strategy.
  • Why It’s Worth Playing: Much like Expedition 33, Gears Tactics challenges players to think several steps ahead while balancing risk and reward. The fast-paced yet tactical gameplay provides a fresh perspective on turn-based combat.
  • Extra Fun: The customization options for your squad allow you to mold each character into a combat specialist tailored to your preferences.

Honorable Mention: Persona 5 Royal

  • What to Expect: A blend of stylish turn-based combat and time-management mechanics, Persona 5 Royal is an RPG that invites you to live a dual life. By day, attend school and build relationships; by night, infiltrate mysterious palaces to steal hearts.
  • Why You’ll Get Hooked: Players who appreciate balancing narrative and combat in Expedition 33 will adore the duality present in Persona 5 Royal. The combat system is flashy but strategic, emphasizing exploiting enemy weaknesses and combining party strengths.
  • Final Word: This game oozes style and substance, so prepare for one of the most memorable turn-based adventures.

The beauty of turn-based games lies in their variety and depth. Whether you prefer managing sprawling armies, crafting intricate narratives, or testing your wits against brutal enemies, this list offers something for everyone. Expedition 33 may have been your entry into the genre’s brilliance, but these games promise to keep you strategizing, scheming, and conquering for years to come.